(Providence, Rhode Island) – It’s back on the campaign trail this week, as I head to Hofstra University on Long Island in New York for the second debate between President Obama and Governor Romney - this on the heels of the vice presidential debate. There is so much going on. Here are this week’s observations:

“Tie Goes to the Challenger” – Who won this week’s vice presidential debate? I call it a tie on substance, but a slight edge to Paul Ryan on style. Each man had an objective. Biden had to go on the attack and get the Obama ticket back in the game. He succeeded. Paul Ryan had to show he has the knowledge, competence and demeanor to be President if something should happen to his boss. He succeeded. So the debate was a tie. But Joe Biden’s unusual smiling, laughter, eye-rolling and other odd behavior gives a slight overall edge to Ryan. In high school debate class, they teach you that part of the score is on substance and part of the score is on style. The same goes in the high-stakes Presidential campaign! It’s Debate 101.

“Does It Matter?” – In the end, probably not. Look! People vote the top of the ticket, so this race is really between Obama and Romney. When was the last time you heard someone say, “Well, it’s a tough choice, but I’ve got to vote for Bob because he has the better running mate?” It just doesn’t happen to any significant degree. A CNN post-debate poll of undecided voters said 28 percent were going to vote Republican based on Ryan’s performance, and 21 percent were going to vote Democratic based on Biden’s debate performance. Again, it’s an insignificant toss-up!

“That’s Entertainment!” – For the past three decades, the vice presidential debate has been more entertaining political theatre than it has been a deal-breaker. Just ask Dan Quayle, Admiral Stockdale and Sarah Palin. This one had its moments though. Biden’s best lines were about Ryan's applying for federal stimulus funds on behalf of firms in Wisconsin, even though Ryan had opposed the Obama stimulus program. Ryan’s best moments were when he defended Romney’s misspeaks and nailed Biden for the many times the latter has had verbal miscues over the years. Again, these were amusing moments from both sides, but not points that will decide the election by any stretch.

“The Biggest Loser” – Poor “Big Bird!” No one mentioned him in the VP debate. His 15 minutes of fame faded fast. I will miss him in this year’s remaining political discourse.

“Curtain Call” – “Big Bird’s” last official act was to appear in an Obama ad, which mentioned Bernie Madoff, Ken Lay, and other Wall Street pirates, and suggested Mitt Romney was more interested in policing Sesame Street, than Wall Street. It was cute, but the people who produce "Sesame Street" quickly asked that it be withdrawn. With four dead Americans in Libya headlining the news, the cartoonish ad was in danger of trivializing a serious election and could have posed a major embarrassment to the White House. The ad vaporized.

“Debate, Round 2” – Tuesday night should be interesting, with the town hall debate format. If I were coaching Mitt Romney, I would say he needs to hit hard on the Libya issue. This – not the economy – is now the Achilles heel for the White House. People want honest answers - not a story line that changes daily. If I were coaching President Obama, I would tell him to hit hard on the “47 percent" comment from Mitt Romney, especially since Obama will be talking to regular folks in the town hall format. President Obama made a major tactical error in the first debate by not hitting on Romney’s biggest weakness – that speech about not appealing to or being interested in those 47 percent of disaffected voters. It ought to be a great debate!

“Who’s On First?” – Well, for the first time in weeks, Mitt Romney is ahead in the national polls. In the latest Real Clear Politics composite poll, he has a lead of 1.3 percent. Last Thursday – before the debate – President Obama was ahead by 0.5 percent. It’s just that close. Of the nine battleground states, Romney is ahead in only three - North Carolina, Colorado and Florida - although the candidates are now tied in a couple of others. If the Election were today, Romney would win the popular vote, but Obama would win the Electoral College. Can you say "election 2000"? Here we go again!

As always, I welcome comments, opinions, disagreements and questions. Just click the comment button at www.MarkCurtisMedia.com.